CVE-2021-33036 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

Apache Hadoop 2.2.0 to 2.10.1, 3.0.0-alpha1 to 3.1.4, 3.2.0 to 3.2.2, and 3.3.0 to 3.3.1 versions contain a privilege escalation vulnerability, allowing a user to execute arbitrary commands as root. It is crucial to upgrade to Apache Hadoop 2.10.2, 3.2.3, 3.3.2 or above to mitigate this issue.

Understanding CVE-2021-33036

This section provides insights into the CVE-2021-33036 vulnerability in Apache Hadoop.

What is CVE-2021-33036?

CVE-2021-33036 is a privilege escalation vulnerability found in Apache Hadoop versions detailed above. It enables a user to potentially run unauthorized commands as the root user.

The Impact of CVE-2021-33036

The impact of CVE-2021-33036 is classified as Critical. This vulnerability allows unauthorized users to execute commands as the root user through Apache Hadoop, posing a severe security risk.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-33036

This section covers the technical aspects of the CVE-2021-33036 vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability allows a user who can escalate to the yarn user to run arbitrary commands as the root user within affected Apache Hadoop versions.

Affected Systems and Versions

The affected versions include Apache Hadoop 2.2.0 to 2.10.1, 3.0.0-alpha1 to 3.1.4, 3.2.0 to 3.2.2, and 3.3.0 to 3.3.1, necessitating immediate upgrades.

Exploitation Mechanism

The exploitation entails users escalating to the yarn user and executing arbitrary commands as the root user, potentially compromising the entire system.

Mitigation and Prevention

Learn how to mitigate and prevent the CVE-2021-33036 vulnerability within Apache Hadoop.

Immediate Steps to Take

If using the vulnerable Apache Hadoop versions, revoke user permissions to escalate to the yarn user to prevent unauthorized actions.

Long-Term Security Practices

Incorporate robust access control and security measures to prevent privilege escalations and unauthorized access in Apache Hadoop.

Patching and Updates

Prioritize upgrading to Apache Hadoop 2.10.2, 3.2.3, 3.3.2, or higher to address the CVE-2021-33036 vulnerability effectively.